If you remove the spare, what do you do in the event of a flat? I was thinking of ditching it since it would give me a little more space. And it's such a pain to use, especially if it's a rear tire that gets punctured... But I don't want to be stuck on the side of the road if I get a flat - and I've had enough of them in inconvenient places to appreciate the value of a spare.

Has anyone tried tire sealant? I carry a small electric pump with me anyway, and was thinking that a can of that stuff could get me at least as far as a spare - and in better control - for the most common causes of a flat. And it wouldn't require jacking the car up on the side of the road either... Any positive or negative experiences? Any other options?

 

AAA

 

I took my spare out. I keep a can of the tire sealant stuff in my trunk. I haven't had to use it yet <knock on wood> so I couldn't tell you if it works or not, but I don't see why it wouldn't.

 

Use run-flats.

 

i keep my spare and have AAA

i might take the spare out on track events

i rather have a peace of mind on the road

 

AAA is great if your car becomes undriveable, but the point is to be able to, at the least, limp somewhere you can get new tires. I would hate to get a puncture flat and be helpless. That's why I was thinking the sealant stuff might be a good alternative - if it works.

I believe that BMW provides that stuff and some CO2 cartriges instead of a spare on certain cars...

 

Yea, wait for another S driver to pull over and offer to let you use their spare.

I posted this thread awhile ago; I found another S driver with a flat - at night - without a spare tire. His reasoning was the same as yours. He wasn't exactly in a safe place, either. I let him borrow mine until the next day. After that episode, he put the spare back into his trunk. He said the peace of mind was worth more than having to worry about his safety and his car than a couple of extra square feet in his trunk.

 

Do you really gain that much more space with taking it out?

 

I keep a tire plug kit and a tire inflator that utilizes C02 cartridges.

 

Several BMW's don't even COME with a spare.
http://www.circlebmw.com/parts/access/82110134558.htm